Man, 44, arrested in Muswellbrook over alleged rape of child in the Riverina

DETECTIVES have charged a Muswellbrook man over the sexual assault of a girl, who was under the age of 10 at the time of at least two of the alleged attacks.

The 44-year-old was arrested on Wednesday by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad, after a three-month investigation into the alleged sexual assault of the now 13-year-old between 2012 to 2015.

Police said the girl was in the care of a relative in the Riverina region at the time.

The man was arrested at a Muswellbrook home about 8.30am on Wednesday.

The man was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 – under authority, two counts of aggrevated sexual intercourse with a child under 14, and two counts of aggrevated indecent assault.

The man briefly appeared at Muswellbrook Local Court on Wednesday, where he was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on September 20.

Police say investigations are continuing.

The Child Abuse Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate crimes against children, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse and extreme cases of neglect.